RAWALPINDI/LAHORE: The Punjab government has requested the federal government to deploy Rangers in Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum and Mianwali districts from Sept 22 to Oct 5 to assist the provincial police in maintaining law and order amid an expected protest on Sept 27.

The request comes as the Kissan Itte had and PTI have announced long marches and sit-ins in Islamabad in the coming week.

PTI has announced along marchon Sept 27 to press for the release of its founder, Imran Khan.

The letter, a copy of which is available with Dawn, said Rangers had been requested for deployment in Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum and Mianwali from Sept 22 to Oct 5.

Rangers’ deployment has been sought from Sept 22 to Oct 5; Public not to be disturbed until marchers enter Punjab

According to a letter sent by the Punjab Home Department to the Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control, three companies of the Pakistan Rangers have been sought for deployment in Rawalpindi, including one for Rawalpindi city and two for Taxila.

Five Rangers wings have been sought for Attock, while Jhelum and Mianwali have each been allocated one company.

The deployment is proposed under Article 245 of the Constitution of Pakistan, 1973, Sections 4 and 5 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, and Sections 7(b) and 10 of the Pakistan Rangers Ordinance, 1959.

The letter said the matter was discussed threadbare at the 59th meeting of the Standing Committee of the Cabinet on Law & Order (SCCLO) of the Punjab government, held on Sept 20.

Meanwhile, authorities have decided to keep all preparations in place without disturbing public life until the PTI long marchers reach the Punjab border, as the deployment of more than 43,000 police personnel equipped with anti-riot gear in the Rawalpindi division has already begun to deal with the PTI protesters.

A police source told Dawn that it has been decided to keep all preparations complete and not to disturb public movements in Rawalpindi until the marchers enter Punjab.

A top-level meeting was held on Wednesday which was attended by IGP Punjab, IGP Railways, IGP Motorway and some senior police officials of Rawalpindi division to review the security strategy and preparations regarding PTI protest, sources said.

More than 43,200 police personnel will be deployed in Rawalpindi division, including, 30,700 in Attock, 10,600 in Rawalpindi, 224 in Murree, 1,400 in Jhelum and 352 in Chakwal to prevent protesters from entering the twin cities.

To deal with emergencies, police authorities have demanded 500 repeater guns, 57,000 rubber bullets, 710 tear gas guns, 61,000 long-range and 10,000 short-range tear gas shells, 1,200 tear gas grenades, 7,150 gas mask flares, 5,600 gas masks, 6,500 splits, and other necessary equipment and razor wire to deal with riots.

In addition, 12 quad copters, eight of them for Attock district and their operators have also been demanded for surveillance, six APC vans, two water cannons, 10 police prison vans for Rawalpindi and 10 prison vans for Attock.

The deployment of 30,700 police personnel has already been started in Attock district as the additional police contingents have begun to arrive amid tight security and join special security duties.

In line with the security plan, the law enforcement personnel will be deployed at 13 Attock blocking points, while over 10,612 police will be stationed in the Rawalpindi district, where 150 police pickets will be set up to stop protesters from entering Islamabad and 300 police will block 50 streets that connect the twin cities.

In Rawalpindi district, 10, 612 police personnel, including anti-riot police, Elite Force commandos, Dolphin Force will likely be deployed at entry points, blocking points, pickets and streets interconnecting twin cities.

Of the 10,612 police personnel, 3,100 personnel will be deployed at 26 entry points, 1,800 personnel will be stationed at 73 blocking points city area, 152 police pickets will be established with deployment of 3,738 personnel and 300 police will be deployed at 50 streets which interconnect the twin cities.

Likewise, 1,976 police personnel will be deployed at 35 blocking points. As many as 126 containers will be placed in Murree, Jhelum and Chakwal to prevent the protesters from heading towards the twin cities.

Of the 1,976 deployment, 1,400 personnel will be deployed in Jhelum, 224 in Murree and 352 in Chakwal. As many as 25 containers will be placed to block roads in Murree, 76 in Jhelum and 25 in Chakwal.

The law enforcement officials have also pointed out that petrol pumps and hotels located along G.T. Road and Motorway will be closed in line with the security plan.

Published in Dawn, September 24th, 2026